The distant ships carry on board the desires of every man. For some they come with the tide. For others they sail forever on the horizon, never out of sight, never landing until the Watcher looks away in resignation, his dreams mocked to death by Time. This is the life of men." Some men never find their ships. The works Their Eyes Were Watching God and Les Miserables can be compared due to the many similarities they share. It can be said that in both there is a complete lack of happiness. First there is the confrontation between Teacake and Marius, then Janie and Eponine, and finally the entire town of Eatonville and the innkeepers. First there is Teacake who had an unhappy life even before meeting Janie. When he and Janie first meet, she thinks she shouldn't associate with him. Janie thinks, “Maybe he was out to get in on her and strip her of everything she had.” (page 100) From the beginning, Teacake had to work hard to win over Janie. Because he was trying so hard to get Janie to love him back, it took some of the romance out of their relationship. Also towards the end of the book, when Teacake has finally been happy for about two years, he is killed. Janies says. “The pistol and rifle rang almost together…Teacake went limp…as he crashed into her arms.” (page 184) Even when the characters find their small and simple happiness, it collapses the moment the triggers are pulled. Secondly there is Marius, who just like Teacake has trouble achieving and maintaining happiness. Marius thinks he has it all figured out when he meets the girl of his dreams, Casette. This is very similar to when Teacake and Janie fall in love and leave. Unbeknownst to her, she is breaking her son's heart... middle of paper... that I had. They had a beautiful daughter that they didn't pay attention to because they couldn't get anything from her, just like Eatonville and Janie's relationship. They robbed everyone who came through the door of their dilapidated inn, but they still could never be happy. Of all the characters in both works, they are the only ones who truly deserve their unhappiness. As can be seen, there is a general lack of lasting happiness in both works. It can be said that in both there is a complete lack of happiness. First there is the confrontation between Teacake and Marius, then Janie and Eponine, and finally the entire town of Eatonville and the innkeepers. As mentioned in the previous paragraph only one group of characters deserved their eternal unhappiness, the innkeepers. For the rest it is exactly what it was supposed to be. Maybe one day they will find their ships.